LAKEPORT — The Lakeport Unified School District Governing Board was updated on a budget item and district test scores Thursday night at its lone meeting of the month.
Linda Slockbower, business manager for the district, reported to the board about the district”s unaudited actual budget for 2010-11. Slockbower said the district is in good financial shape currently but cautioned state budget woes could impact the district in 2012.
Slockbower reported that district revenue overall had risen slightly from the second interim budget report in March to the end of the school year on June 30. District expenditures had gone down by more than $750,000, resulting in a year-end balance of approximately $3.42 million for the district.
Slockbower said the district did not do any deficit spending in 2010-11 but cautioned it could happen this year.
Slockbower said the state might enact budget cuts to school districts at the start of 2012 if state revenues are lower than expected. These mid-year cuts will impact the district”s average daily attendance, cutting those funds by $425,000 for the remainder of the school year.
Slockbower said the district”s ending fund balance has given her confidence the district will remain financially solvent if the mid-year cuts are implemented. The board unanimously approved the report.
Tim Gill, senior director of educational services at Lake County Office of Education, updated the board on the district”s academic performance index (API) scores. Gill gave a PowerPoint presentation that showed much improvement throughout the district.
Gill said an API score of 700 meant students are performing at a “basic” level of comprehension. The district average improved from 778 in 2010 to 786 in 2011. Lakeport Elementary API scores improved from 796 to 798. Terrace Middle School (TMS) API scores improved from 772 to 793. Clear Lake High School (CLHS) scores fell slightly but remained high, decreasing from 791 to 790.
Gill included five-year growth scores in his presentation which showed vast improvements.
The district”s API average improved by 56 points from 730 in 2006 to 786 in 2011, which Gill said indicated the district is “doing a good job.” Lakeport Elementary, which Gill said suffered some decreasing scores but had battled back, improved from 791 to 798.
TMS and CLHS each saw scores improve by more than 60 points in five years. TMS scores jumped from 721 in 2006 to 791 in 2011. CLHS scores increased from 729 to 790.
Gill said the district”s API scores were “very nice numbers” that indicated the district is “healthy” and doing a good job with student achievement.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
